You have probably heard by now the Scripture that speaks over us, we are God's masterpiece, a treasured work of art. This weekend I read, in my new favorite book, "Love Does" by Bob Goff, a whole other level of this analogy, and it was just too amazing not to share. Here is my (teensy bit paraphrased) summary.
Bob fell in love with a painting in a gallery he walked by frequently. It really spoke to him about God and his own picture of his life with his family, he really loved it, but it was 4 times the value of any of his last 4 vehicles. So he saved up for a whole year to purchase this beloved painting. As he finally made his purchase, the curator handed him two paintings, and they looked identical!
"What do I need two paintings for?"
"Well, ze one on the left is ze real one. It's museum qualeetay. It's very expensive, almost priceless. You don't want to hang ze original where it might get damaged, so you put ze original in a vault. Zis other one, however is ze fake one and iz ze one you put up on the wall for everyone to see."
Well, which of the two paintings do you think he put up on the wall. Bob understood why the guy at the gallery wanted him to hang the fake one and hide the real one, damage to the real one would be a huge loss, it was as Bob put it, 'not long for this earth, rare, one of a kind, irreplaceable.' But that's exactly why he wanted the original on his wall.
So he hung it up, perfectly framed by two windows where he the sun comes up over the waters in colours to beautiful to be real. Fitting. Then one morning as he sat in his favorite spot that overlooked the two windows and the original painting he looked up and his jaw dropped. The night before there was some typical family chaos going on, no one recalls doing the damage, but the painting in fact took a hit. That was awhile ago now, and every morning he still does his usual routine, sits in his favorite chair, and looks at his favorite piece of art, still taken by its beauty. He doesn't even notice that it's damaged anymore, he's not mad or disappointed about it. The reason is simple: it reminds him fondly of his kids. He sees his kids engaged in life, he sees all the mischief, the whimsy, and the spontaneous combustion that is their hallmark. Truth be known, he likes the original painting even more now.
There are times in life when we've gotten into mischief, taken chances, taken some big risks. In the process, sometimes we've let people down or it didn't go well. We've taken some damage. But after that painting got hit, Bob realized, God doesn't think any less of us when things don't go right. Actually, it's more likely He plans on it. What God doesn't plan on is us putting a fake version of ourselves out there to take the hit. God is the master artist and made an original version of us, a priceless one that cost everything to create. A version that can't and won't be created again.
God asks us to hang that version of ourselves for everyone to see. Despite our inherent beauty, each of us is tempted to hide the original so we won't get damaged. It's obvious to see why. But the fake version of us is not worthless, it's just worth less. Because it's a copy, a version we don't care about as much, it's like a stunt double standing in for us, yet we're telling the world this is the best we've got, the best we'll risk.
But our value, as the masterpiece, is not because of the beauty of canvas, we have infinite value because of who created us, God, the master artist. The best we can muster on our own is a fake. God asks us to leave the cheap imitations in the closet. That doesn't mean he's saying that when you hang the real one out there - the priceless one - that things will go great. It's pretty clear from watching Jesus' followers that when you risk the real you, you'll probably take a hit. God did when He hung Jesus out there. But the thing is, when we take hits, and we will, God isn't going to think less of us. He's still going to go to His favorite spot to look upon His original masterpiece, and He loves us, damage and all.
Showing posts with label Teaching Truth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Teaching Truth. Show all posts
Monday, August 10, 2015
Monday, June 8, 2015
Harmony
In my devotional I was readying in Colossians 1 about Jesus' role of bringing harmony to the universe, it's been His job from Genesis, through His time on earth, and through His second coming, perfect harmony being achieved with Him in eternity someday. That brought to mind something a friend once said, that God showed her all existence is like a song (she's a musician), and we talked about how even stars have been recorded as making a humming noise. So when I read that God showed me that all of creation is like one long song, every part of creation is a part of that song (or maybe even symphony!) a bar, a note, pitch, an instrument, every thing that it takes to play that song is a piece of creation. Even in nature, our instruments are created from inspiration of winds, reeds, beating rhythms, etc. And it's one language you will find in every culture, that has this inexplicable ability to move people more than just words alone, lyrics set to music have what my musician friend deems 'magic.' And so, when it comes to harmony in this world, my purpose, your purpose, everyone's purpose plays a part in bringing about that harmony, and so Jesus is even more intent on using His every resource to bring about His purpose for us, more intent than we are, because without our purpose being fulfilled ('our' being His children) then there isn't harmony with the purpose of all creation. I've discovered a new appreciation for His timing, because think of how important timing is to make music sound good, to sound in harmony, it takes each piece fulfilling it's purpose in PERFECT timing. But also each piece must be cooperative, must accept alignment, must choose unity. And when we achieve harmony in music, think of how beautiful it sounds.
God gave me a picture during our Friday morning prayer group a couple of weeks ago of a tuning fork, that the Holy Spirit works in us like a tuning fork, He reverberates within us and the closer we pay attention to His tune, the more we can feel when we are in alignment, in or out of tune. When we are out of tune it's like clashing off-key notes, it makes you cringe and recoil, you just know it's not right but even more than that it's painful to listen to. When we are in tune it's not only harmonious, it's peaceful, it's sweet-sounding, like a beautiful song you don't ever want to end. I've been trying to remember that when seeking God, when I need answers, I strike the tuning fork and wait for the vibrations to show me pain or peace. So when I read in my devotional last Thursday about Jesus' purpose as a harmony maker, it made SO MUCH SENSE!
So then, I think, eternal life, that must be what perfect harmony is, because that is Jesus' end game, life with all of creation made new in His kingdom. So, why does it seem there is less and less harmony in the world, and not just in the world, in Churches even. Isn't that how music works, the more you work at it the closer you get to it sounding perfect? But God showed me through the tuning fork analogy, God is also the tuning fork, not just as the Holy Spirit inside each believer, but a cosmic tuning fork, and He has been slowly increasing how strong the tuning vibrations are, the stronger the vibrations the clearer it is who is in tune/alignment and who is out of tune/alignment. The vibrations are increasing in strength the closer to the end times, because before, and even now, it is easy for people to hide their misalignment with God, there are so many Christians who think they are following God, but are not, and a lot of us can't see the difference. So as the season draws nearer, there is actually less harmony as those who are out of tune are exposed, and they have a choice to make. We live in a world where there is the appearance of grey, but really all there is, is black and white. It is like salt and pepper thoroughly mixed together would appear grey, with maybe some spots more white or more black, but if you sifted them properly they would separate and there would only be white and black. God's tuning fork vibrations are sifting us to make it clear there is no grey. Those who are out of tune and want alignment with God will have choose to get into harmony. Some won't feel in tune with Him and in fact the true God's tune can sound harsh and sour, a sound that's painful for them to listen to, so they cringe and recoil. So they will choose discord. The vibrations are driving every human to either choose white or black, they shake the grey choices out of existence, and so we'll in fact see less and less harmony/peace/unity in the world as the grey becomes black, and the black becomes blacker. But we should also see some grey becoming white, and the white becoming whiter. The white WILL be more harmonious, there will be more unity and peace in the Churches that are in alignment with God.
I am so blessed that God keeps bringing these revelations to me when I'm intentional about spending time with Him, and confirms them through other things He's been showing me. Well this one keeps getting more and more confirmation. I went to a garage sale on Saturday, held by the woman who leads my Friday morning prayer group, she was selling books so I knew I had to get in on a deal on books she has previously read! One of those books I actually picked up for a friend, a take on postmodern evangelism for a friend struggling with being taught 'street-corner' evangelism, and it was equated to a dance, which she is a dancer! But I decided to flip through it first and in the introduction he wrote this: "The Gospel comes to you, not like a commercial, but like a song. It sneaks up on you and then sneaks inside of you. Somewhere in your journey through life, you begin to hear this song whose music captures your heart with its rhythm, melody, ambiance and glory, and you begin to move to its rhythm. Overtime your whole life begins to harmonize to the song...so you resonate with its tone and flow with its melody. The lyrics gradually convince you that the entire world was meant to share this song with its message, its joy and its dance. This is why you begin to feel the song and live by it." More Ready Than You Realize - Brian McLaren. Wow! And he wrote that in 2002! And God wasn't done yet! A song came on the radio yesterday that He touched me with a few weeks ago, I had heard it for the first time right after prayer group, a particularily touching time that spurred me on to seek more of God in a new way. Yesterday the words hit me in a new way...
Harmony. As I learn so much about His idea of harmony, I receive more and more of it flooding my life in beautiful, sweet-sounding ways. And I want to feel the song more and more, live by it, and dance in its joy!
God gave me a picture during our Friday morning prayer group a couple of weeks ago of a tuning fork, that the Holy Spirit works in us like a tuning fork, He reverberates within us and the closer we pay attention to His tune, the more we can feel when we are in alignment, in or out of tune. When we are out of tune it's like clashing off-key notes, it makes you cringe and recoil, you just know it's not right but even more than that it's painful to listen to. When we are in tune it's not only harmonious, it's peaceful, it's sweet-sounding, like a beautiful song you don't ever want to end. I've been trying to remember that when seeking God, when I need answers, I strike the tuning fork and wait for the vibrations to show me pain or peace. So when I read in my devotional last Thursday about Jesus' purpose as a harmony maker, it made SO MUCH SENSE!
So then, I think, eternal life, that must be what perfect harmony is, because that is Jesus' end game, life with all of creation made new in His kingdom. So, why does it seem there is less and less harmony in the world, and not just in the world, in Churches even. Isn't that how music works, the more you work at it the closer you get to it sounding perfect? But God showed me through the tuning fork analogy, God is also the tuning fork, not just as the Holy Spirit inside each believer, but a cosmic tuning fork, and He has been slowly increasing how strong the tuning vibrations are, the stronger the vibrations the clearer it is who is in tune/alignment and who is out of tune/alignment. The vibrations are increasing in strength the closer to the end times, because before, and even now, it is easy for people to hide their misalignment with God, there are so many Christians who think they are following God, but are not, and a lot of us can't see the difference. So as the season draws nearer, there is actually less harmony as those who are out of tune are exposed, and they have a choice to make. We live in a world where there is the appearance of grey, but really all there is, is black and white. It is like salt and pepper thoroughly mixed together would appear grey, with maybe some spots more white or more black, but if you sifted them properly they would separate and there would only be white and black. God's tuning fork vibrations are sifting us to make it clear there is no grey. Those who are out of tune and want alignment with God will have choose to get into harmony. Some won't feel in tune with Him and in fact the true God's tune can sound harsh and sour, a sound that's painful for them to listen to, so they cringe and recoil. So they will choose discord. The vibrations are driving every human to either choose white or black, they shake the grey choices out of existence, and so we'll in fact see less and less harmony/peace/unity in the world as the grey becomes black, and the black becomes blacker. But we should also see some grey becoming white, and the white becoming whiter. The white WILL be more harmonious, there will be more unity and peace in the Churches that are in alignment with God.
I am so blessed that God keeps bringing these revelations to me when I'm intentional about spending time with Him, and confirms them through other things He's been showing me. Well this one keeps getting more and more confirmation. I went to a garage sale on Saturday, held by the woman who leads my Friday morning prayer group, she was selling books so I knew I had to get in on a deal on books she has previously read! One of those books I actually picked up for a friend, a take on postmodern evangelism for a friend struggling with being taught 'street-corner' evangelism, and it was equated to a dance, which she is a dancer! But I decided to flip through it first and in the introduction he wrote this: "The Gospel comes to you, not like a commercial, but like a song. It sneaks up on you and then sneaks inside of you. Somewhere in your journey through life, you begin to hear this song whose music captures your heart with its rhythm, melody, ambiance and glory, and you begin to move to its rhythm. Overtime your whole life begins to harmonize to the song...so you resonate with its tone and flow with its melody. The lyrics gradually convince you that the entire world was meant to share this song with its message, its joy and its dance. This is why you begin to feel the song and live by it." More Ready Than You Realize - Brian McLaren. Wow! And he wrote that in 2002! And God wasn't done yet! A song came on the radio yesterday that He touched me with a few weeks ago, I had heard it for the first time right after prayer group, a particularily touching time that spurred me on to seek more of God in a new way. Yesterday the words hit me in a new way...
Amen, Amen
I'm alive, I'm alive
Because He lives
Amen, Amen
Let my song join the one that never ends
Because He lives
Because He lives
I can face tomorrow
Because He lives
Every fear is gone
I know He holds my life my future in His hands
Matt Maher - Because He Lives (Amen) Lyrics | MetroLyrics
I'm alive, I'm alive
Because He lives
Amen, Amen
Let my song join the one that never ends
Because He lives
Because He lives
I can face tomorrow
Because He lives
Every fear is gone
I know He holds my life my future in His hands
Matt Maher - Because He Lives (Amen) Lyrics | MetroLyrics
Harmony. As I learn so much about His idea of harmony, I receive more and more of it flooding my life in beautiful, sweet-sounding ways. And I want to feel the song more and more, live by it, and dance in its joy!
Monday, April 13, 2015
The Secret Spirit Language
Have you ever wondered why it is you can have conversations with other Christians that really deepen your hunger for truth, they give you revelations and insights seemingly straight from God? You get filled up just talking to them and you leave them feeling like you've encountered God?
Have you wondered why it is you can have conversations with other Christians and it leaves you wondering if you are speaking the same language? Wondering if you even know the same God?
I have noticed this a lot lately in the last 30 months, more so especially in the last year, and the former I just started to call them Holy Spirit moments. After all, "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." I love those moments.
Last week in my devotional time God revealed to me more about this amazing concept. He showed me it is like the Trinity speak their own secret language, that language is the language of truth, ultimate truth, all-knowingness. And we, like anyone learning a new language, are able to recognize it and understand it the more we are exposed to it.
The first step to learning a language is to spend time in a community where we are exposed to people speaking the language. In this case, spending time with Godly people in tuned with the Holy Spirit.
The next step is to practice speaking in, and listening to, the language. To be able to learn the Secret Spirit Language we need to practice speaking to God, developing our prayer life, but not just talking to God, talking with God, taking the time to learn to listen and recognize what He's saying.
And another way to help learn language is through comprehension; reading, writing, and having dialogue. This is more than just reading the Scriptures for knowledge sake, it is reading communication directly from the creator of the Spirit Secret Language Himself, and we read it to gain familiarity with the language of truth. Truth is a difficult language so it helps our development to journal or discuss our understanding of what we have learned.
So, as I have grown in my understanding of the Spirit Secret Language, I have found others who are also proficient in this amazing language! We find ourselves slipping into this deeper dialect naturally, realizing as we talk that there is a connection beyond ourselves happening, and the amazing thing about the language of truth is that our awareness of truth expands the more we are immersed in it. And then there are other people, and they can't seem to understand what we're talking about, it's like they are hearing gibberish. Or maybe more like seeing sign language, it is in English, which they should be able to understand, but the way the language is being communicated they just can't understand.
I am so in awe of this and it has made me so eager to delve into learning more, in every way I can. I seek out more opportunities to be in the company of other SSL enthusiasts, and reading Scripture and praying are a whole new experience. I have always been a big fan of secret codes and the idea of being multilingual, I am so excited to take my language skills to another level!
After this revelation, God then hammered the point home with having me come across several Scriptures the last few days, but this one captures it perfectly so I will share it in it's entirety.
1 Corinthians 2:1-16
Have you wondered why it is you can have conversations with other Christians and it leaves you wondering if you are speaking the same language? Wondering if you even know the same God?
I have noticed this a lot lately in the last 30 months, more so especially in the last year, and the former I just started to call them Holy Spirit moments. After all, "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." I love those moments.
Last week in my devotional time God revealed to me more about this amazing concept. He showed me it is like the Trinity speak their own secret language, that language is the language of truth, ultimate truth, all-knowingness. And we, like anyone learning a new language, are able to recognize it and understand it the more we are exposed to it.
The first step to learning a language is to spend time in a community where we are exposed to people speaking the language. In this case, spending time with Godly people in tuned with the Holy Spirit.
The next step is to practice speaking in, and listening to, the language. To be able to learn the Secret Spirit Language we need to practice speaking to God, developing our prayer life, but not just talking to God, talking with God, taking the time to learn to listen and recognize what He's saying.
And another way to help learn language is through comprehension; reading, writing, and having dialogue. This is more than just reading the Scriptures for knowledge sake, it is reading communication directly from the creator of the Spirit Secret Language Himself, and we read it to gain familiarity with the language of truth. Truth is a difficult language so it helps our development to journal or discuss our understanding of what we have learned.
So, as I have grown in my understanding of the Spirit Secret Language, I have found others who are also proficient in this amazing language! We find ourselves slipping into this deeper dialect naturally, realizing as we talk that there is a connection beyond ourselves happening, and the amazing thing about the language of truth is that our awareness of truth expands the more we are immersed in it. And then there are other people, and they can't seem to understand what we're talking about, it's like they are hearing gibberish. Or maybe more like seeing sign language, it is in English, which they should be able to understand, but the way the language is being communicated they just can't understand.
I am so in awe of this and it has made me so eager to delve into learning more, in every way I can. I seek out more opportunities to be in the company of other SSL enthusiasts, and reading Scripture and praying are a whole new experience. I have always been a big fan of secret codes and the idea of being multilingual, I am so excited to take my language skills to another level!
After this revelation, God then hammered the point home with having me come across several Scriptures the last few days, but this one captures it perfectly so I will share it in it's entirety.
1 Corinthians 2:1-16
When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. 2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. 6 Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. 7 No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. 8 But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. 9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”
10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. 13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. 14 But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 15 Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. 16 For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?”
But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.
But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.
Thursday, December 25, 2014
His Kind of Love
Have you ever had a goal that would require a lot of hard work, mistakes, failures, cost significant money, and yet wanted it enough to go after it anyway?
The majority of people have I would say.
Those who go off to college/university to get a degree.
Those who choose to commit a lifetime to a spouse in marriage.
Those who choose to have children.
I think there are generally two groups of people when it comes to these kinds of goals.
First,
Some people do not count the cost before beginning.
Some count the cost unrealistically.
Some change their mind about the cost being worth it.
They tend to give up on their goals.
Second,
Some take commitment seriously, no matter the costs that pile up.
Some want it badly enough, it is their top priority.
Some know that the end result being worth it depends on what you put into it.
They tend to pursue goals relentlessly.
What if you knew in advance though that you would have only 50% success rate? 25% success rate? That you gave up everything else to pursue something that ultimately in the end did not seem worth the cost.
You barely pass school to get a degree by the skin of your teeth.
Out of 55 years of marriage only 15 were good.
2 out of 3 children decide to reject you and your family and become estranged.
Many people, knowing this in advance, would at least think twice.
I dare say, most would change their mind and decide not to pursue those goals.
Even some of those second group, the most purposeful of people, would change their mind.
And those that were dedicated enough to move forward anyway, could in the heat of their battle, under duress and pain, lose hope. They could doubt. They could want to give up. They could cry out to God and say, 'please, I ask you to spare me, because I don't think I can do this anymore!'
Did you know God counted the cost?
God and Jesus formed a plan, they knew would be tremendously hard work.
They knew there was going to be the highest price to be paid.
They knew the plan would seem like a bunch of mistakes ending in failure.
But they knew their mission required no less than this sacrifice, and that it would be worth it.
They knew it was the only way to save EVERY human.
They knew not every human would accept that gift.
The 'success rate' would be low.
Even knowing that in advance they went for it.
Jesus gave up everything.
From the most perfect existence imaginable to the most defenseless existence.
Jesus gave up everything to pursue something that by the world's standards would not be worth it.
And once He was human, even He had doubts.
Under the duress and pain, His human spirit suffered, hope waned.
He cried out to God, 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.'
The majority of people have I would say.
Those who go off to college/university to get a degree.
Those who choose to commit a lifetime to a spouse in marriage.
Those who choose to have children.
I think there are generally two groups of people when it comes to these kinds of goals.
First,
Some people do not count the cost before beginning.
Some count the cost unrealistically.
Some change their mind about the cost being worth it.
They tend to give up on their goals.
Second,
Some take commitment seriously, no matter the costs that pile up.
Some want it badly enough, it is their top priority.
Some know that the end result being worth it depends on what you put into it.
They tend to pursue goals relentlessly.
What if you knew in advance though that you would have only 50% success rate? 25% success rate? That you gave up everything else to pursue something that ultimately in the end did not seem worth the cost.
You barely pass school to get a degree by the skin of your teeth.
Out of 55 years of marriage only 15 were good.
2 out of 3 children decide to reject you and your family and become estranged.
Many people, knowing this in advance, would at least think twice.
I dare say, most would change their mind and decide not to pursue those goals.
Even some of those second group, the most purposeful of people, would change their mind.
And those that were dedicated enough to move forward anyway, could in the heat of their battle, under duress and pain, lose hope. They could doubt. They could want to give up. They could cry out to God and say, 'please, I ask you to spare me, because I don't think I can do this anymore!'
Did you know God counted the cost?
God and Jesus formed a plan, they knew would be tremendously hard work.
They knew there was going to be the highest price to be paid.
They knew the plan would seem like a bunch of mistakes ending in failure.
But they knew their mission required no less than this sacrifice, and that it would be worth it.
They knew it was the only way to save EVERY human.
They knew not every human would accept that gift.
The 'success rate' would be low.
Even knowing that in advance they went for it.
Jesus gave up everything.
From the most perfect existence imaginable to the most defenseless existence.
Jesus gave up everything to pursue something that by the world's standards would not be worth it.
And once He was human, even He had doubts.
Under the duress and pain, His human spirit suffered, hope waned.
He cried out to God, 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.'
But He also said something that most humans would not, facing such great loss.
'Yet not as I will, but as you will.'
He counted the cost.
Because you are worth it.
Even if everyone else but you, in the entire history of humanity, did not accept this gift.
He would still find you worth it all.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Why Me?
This is not a question I ask often, or ask in my depression. No this is a question I typically spout when I am perplexed by my abundant blessings. A few years ago we did a series at Church on what justice really is and I wondered why was I born in Canada, into privilege, into a home with Christian parents? Something triggered this question in me again just the other day.
It was the movie Saving Private Ryan. It was the part when they finally find him and tell him they are there to bring him home.
Private Ryan: [after being told he can go home] "It doesn't make any sense, sir. Why? Why do I deserve to go? Why not any of these guys? They all fought just as hard as me. "
The reason this resonated with me was because of a truth that has been coming back to me in many different ways over the last month.
God chose me.
Now His Sovereignty is something I don't claim to fully understand. I find the more I know God the less I understand, but the closer I get to God the less I need to understand. But I do understand God chose me. Chose me before I was born, before I was conceived, before my parents were married, before my parents were born, before the beginning of the world was formed. God dreamt me up and planned for me to belong to Him again one day.
I also understand He has hardened the hearts of people. This is where I understand less and less how Sovereignty works, but I do understand that there have been times He has hardened hearts for the good results it will eventually produce.
So why was I born soft-hearted?
I'm not sure. I have no answer to Why Me?
All I know is God sent Jesus into this war here on earth, on a mission to find me, Private Lori Michelle Alcorn. To find me, to save me, tell me I get to go home with Him.
And He did it at great cost. He lost His life in this war here on earth. (*spoiler alert*) Just like Captain Miller, the soldier leading the search for Private Ryan.
As Captain Miller dies he says, "James, earn this... earn it." And it haunts Private Ryan the rest of his life. As an old man he desperately asks his wife, 'tell me I've been a good man, that I've lived a good life.'
Thankfully, because Jesus found me, I know that is not what He said as He died. He said, "It is finished." Which is completely the opposite, it means, "Lori, you do not have to do one thing to earn this freedom."
Friday, April 18, 2014
The Inheritance
Insurmountable debt.
This is your inheritance.
An outrageous obligation!
What?! How?! Why?!
You didn't ask to be born into this!
You will NEVER be able to repay what is owed.
Not in your life time.
Not in the life time of your children, or your children's children.
In this fashion it was passed down to you from previous generations.
Which is why the debt persists.
And the burden of the liability weighs heavy on you.
It wasn't yours, but has now become yours.
It seems impossible.
It wouldn't have mattered if you'd known from day one, there would be no earning a way out of this.
Until.
One day, a man comes to you and says he will take the debt on your behalf.
ALL OF IT.
'You're crazy! No one in their right mind would sacrifice that much just to help me.'
'I promise, I can and want to do this for you. Just sign it all over to me, I've got the paperwork already drawn up.'
'What is this, some random act of kindness? Is there a camera rolling somewhere?'
'I promise you, this is not random. I have thought this through, long and hard. Now will you let me help you?'
You are at the end of your rope.
At the end of yourself.
You don't know what else to do.
What do you have to lose?
And so you do it.
You release the debt to this stranger, who seems to good to be true.
The bank statement shows zero outstanding.
It is finished.
You owe nothing.
Not even to your benefactor.
And then a surprise twist.
You start to read the 'paperwork' he drew up.
You drop the papers along with your jaw.
You pick it back up, studying the words carefully.
You read it over and over again, looking to convince yourself of their truth.
But there it is, in black and white.
You are now the heir to a king.
Your inheritance has been swapped, from pauper to prince.
You are royalty, bequeathed a kingdom, a mansion, land, riches.
Riches far more precious than mere gold.
You received an inheritance so vast it will take all of eternity to fully comprehend it.
You were not only freed but you were blessed.
Now that is Good News.
1 Peter 1:18-19, 3-4
This is your inheritance.
An outrageous obligation!
What?! How?! Why?!
You didn't ask to be born into this!
You will NEVER be able to repay what is owed.
Not in your life time.
Not in the life time of your children, or your children's children.
In this fashion it was passed down to you from previous generations.
Which is why the debt persists.
And the burden of the liability weighs heavy on you.
It wasn't yours, but has now become yours.
It seems impossible.
It wouldn't have mattered if you'd known from day one, there would be no earning a way out of this.
Until.
One day, a man comes to you and says he will take the debt on your behalf.
ALL OF IT.
'You're crazy! No one in their right mind would sacrifice that much just to help me.'
'I promise, I can and want to do this for you. Just sign it all over to me, I've got the paperwork already drawn up.'
'What is this, some random act of kindness? Is there a camera rolling somewhere?'
'I promise you, this is not random. I have thought this through, long and hard. Now will you let me help you?'
You are at the end of your rope.
At the end of yourself.
You don't know what else to do.
What do you have to lose?
And so you do it.
You release the debt to this stranger, who seems to good to be true.
The bank statement shows zero outstanding.
It is finished.
You owe nothing.
Not even to your benefactor.
And then a surprise twist.
You start to read the 'paperwork' he drew up.
You drop the papers along with your jaw.
You pick it back up, studying the words carefully.
You read it over and over again, looking to convince yourself of their truth.
But there it is, in black and white.
You are now the heir to a king.
Your inheritance has been swapped, from pauper to prince.
You are royalty, bequeathed a kingdom, a mansion, land, riches.
Riches far more precious than mere gold.
You received an inheritance so vast it will take all of eternity to fully comprehend it.
You were not only freed but you were blessed.
Now that is Good News.
1 Peter 1:18-19, 3-4
Monday, April 22, 2013
Stall
I have a little writer's block. I've been wanting to write all the swirling thoughts I have in my mind about beauty but can't seem to get anything coherent down. When that happens it's usually God's way of telling me to come back to it some other time, that it's still a work in progress that needs a little more light shone on it. I'm ok with that, I much prefer to write when it's God's laying it on my heart with clarity and urgency, it's not just about 'posting' then, and I learn as I write when He leads.
In the mean time, as I've been pondering, I've had no posts other than ODP for the last while :(
That will hopefully change this week as I am travelling for work and evenings can get kind of boring. I have 2 goals I'd like to accomplish with that 'free' time I wouldn't otherwise have during the week.
1. Blog more.
2. Create my own kind of 'retreat' as I am missing the woman's retreat this year because of this travel. I think my theme will be....drum roll....beauty! Well, self-image and continuing to work on my recovery steps for food addiction specifically, but I'm thinking God's going to be revealing to me some lies I've been believing about myself.
Regardless, I don't think I'll be stalled out for long. There are a few truths God's been germinating in me that I hope to flush out in some posts soon.
In the mean time, as I've been pondering, I've had no posts other than ODP for the last while :(
That will hopefully change this week as I am travelling for work and evenings can get kind of boring. I have 2 goals I'd like to accomplish with that 'free' time I wouldn't otherwise have during the week.
1. Blog more.
2. Create my own kind of 'retreat' as I am missing the woman's retreat this year because of this travel. I think my theme will be....drum roll....beauty! Well, self-image and continuing to work on my recovery steps for food addiction specifically, but I'm thinking God's going to be revealing to me some lies I've been believing about myself.
Regardless, I don't think I'll be stalled out for long. There are a few truths God's been germinating in me that I hope to flush out in some posts soon.
Friday, April 12, 2013
First World Problems
Thanks to my new quest for a life desperate for God, I have a renewed fire for dependency on God. I have the desire for it but can't seem to sustain the dependency. I want to be spiritually poor, and the more I examined that I began to think, it might be easier if I was actually poor. I have begun to lament the obstacles in my way, sadly they seem very camel sized. Sadly, they are such first world problems.
I feel a little pathetic.
Dependency on food.
~ I wish for the inability to be addicted to food. I heard from someone who visited our Swaziland carepoints (villages sponsored by our Church) that when the children were given a special treat of chocolate chip cookies, they weren't enthusiastic at all, and that gifter - a little offended - asked why. Food is food to them, they are on the brink of starvation, they are equally satisfied to get slop as a chocolate chip cookie treat, it is a source of life not enjoyment. It's not that I don't believe food is given as a gift of pleasure, but it's one I'm prone to abuse. Plop me in a place where I only have what I need to survive, no extra temptations, then I could rely on God instead of relying on chocolate, etc. Right?
Dependency on money.
~ I wish my hours weren't eaten up by the job I need to pay my bills. It isn't just the travel time and long lunch with little ability to spend it on what I would rather, like quality time with God, disciplining my spirit, or being active, disciplining my body. I would gladly work less hours, have less money, if it weren't for the life we've already committed to. While we're working towards less debt/expenses, I'm impatient during every 'wasted' moment in the mean time. Why don't I have to work the land instead, my hands in the earth where I move my body more and God moves in my spirit, tilling my spiritual soil as I do the same physically.
Dependency on validation.
~ This is a whole post in and of itself. I know I'm not the only one with self-image issues, not the only one who seeks out affirmation. Someone said recently, 'who doesn't', and I realized, that is not a third world problem, that's for sure. I watched the documentary Babies the other day and the family in Africa all wore basically the same thing, which was very little, no matter their shape or size or age, their image was clearly not of concern. God has blessed me with his view of me, I know he sees me as beautiful, again a whole post in itself, yet I can't find enough satisfaction in that. Why?! Why is that not enough? I really, really want it to be enough that God, creator of the universe, finds me lovely.
This may seem overly simplified to some, but really a lot of it is just the opposite of a perspective quite a few people have. I had it. A goal of wealth 'solves' some of the same issues. Paying for dieticians and trainers to balance out indulgence in food. If time is money, money is time, right? More money would mean more freedom with time. And money does a good job of covering our flaws in a multitude of options.
One day my opinion started to flip though, and I realized, releasing a lot of the trappings of this world would accomplish what I was trying so hard to build wealth for. With one difference, an increased hunger....for God. As I exposed myself to the ways of admirable people around the world, a significant number of them had some level of poverty, giving up financial security in part or all. I'm not sure I'm called to go as far as a vow of poverty, but I'm seriously seeking out ways I can give up more.
Less of me, more of God.
I do sense a desperation growing, a desperation for more desperation for God. I'm not sure yet what God is stirring up in me. Maybe he's teaching me I need to release what's trapping me up. Maybe he's taking me through the harder lesson, depending on him when I really don't 'need' to.
First world = camel sized problems.
I feel a little pathetic.
Dependency on food.
~ I wish for the inability to be addicted to food. I heard from someone who visited our Swaziland carepoints (villages sponsored by our Church) that when the children were given a special treat of chocolate chip cookies, they weren't enthusiastic at all, and that gifter - a little offended - asked why. Food is food to them, they are on the brink of starvation, they are equally satisfied to get slop as a chocolate chip cookie treat, it is a source of life not enjoyment. It's not that I don't believe food is given as a gift of pleasure, but it's one I'm prone to abuse. Plop me in a place where I only have what I need to survive, no extra temptations, then I could rely on God instead of relying on chocolate, etc. Right?
Dependency on money.
~ I wish my hours weren't eaten up by the job I need to pay my bills. It isn't just the travel time and long lunch with little ability to spend it on what I would rather, like quality time with God, disciplining my spirit, or being active, disciplining my body. I would gladly work less hours, have less money, if it weren't for the life we've already committed to. While we're working towards less debt/expenses, I'm impatient during every 'wasted' moment in the mean time. Why don't I have to work the land instead, my hands in the earth where I move my body more and God moves in my spirit, tilling my spiritual soil as I do the same physically.
Dependency on validation.
~ This is a whole post in and of itself. I know I'm not the only one with self-image issues, not the only one who seeks out affirmation. Someone said recently, 'who doesn't', and I realized, that is not a third world problem, that's for sure. I watched the documentary Babies the other day and the family in Africa all wore basically the same thing, which was very little, no matter their shape or size or age, their image was clearly not of concern. God has blessed me with his view of me, I know he sees me as beautiful, again a whole post in itself, yet I can't find enough satisfaction in that. Why?! Why is that not enough? I really, really want it to be enough that God, creator of the universe, finds me lovely.
This may seem overly simplified to some, but really a lot of it is just the opposite of a perspective quite a few people have. I had it. A goal of wealth 'solves' some of the same issues. Paying for dieticians and trainers to balance out indulgence in food. If time is money, money is time, right? More money would mean more freedom with time. And money does a good job of covering our flaws in a multitude of options.
One day my opinion started to flip though, and I realized, releasing a lot of the trappings of this world would accomplish what I was trying so hard to build wealth for. With one difference, an increased hunger....for God. As I exposed myself to the ways of admirable people around the world, a significant number of them had some level of poverty, giving up financial security in part or all. I'm not sure I'm called to go as far as a vow of poverty, but I'm seriously seeking out ways I can give up more.
Less of me, more of God.
I do sense a desperation growing, a desperation for more desperation for God. I'm not sure yet what God is stirring up in me. Maybe he's teaching me I need to release what's trapping me up. Maybe he's taking me through the harder lesson, depending on him when I really don't 'need' to.
First world = camel sized problems.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Filthy Rags
I really cherish our pastor. I haven't supported his every decision or word out of his mouth, but more often than not I approve of and applaud what he does as our pastor. I love his heart, his no holds barred honesty, and his passion when he gets on fire for a topic/issue/project, etc.
I enjoy the type of speaking he does, especially helping us see the 'why' and 'context', with literal translations and historical & cultural frames of reference. That's right up my alley, with my love for history and my Expanded Bible.
I admire his obedience to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. On more than one occasion he has explained how he wanted to teach vs. how he was told to teach. He has humbly confessed to how his sermon has changed because of pride or lack of faith.
I also admire his willingness to not pull any punches. He will not flower up the teaching to make it more palatable. He even unpretties our modern translations of the Bible, language society might find perfectly acceptable outside Church walls, but appalled at inside a sacred building. I relish these messages and actually look forward to when I say 'ouch' from the conviction he's tapped into.
So, all of these came into play last Sunday and I just LOVED the message.
First, his heart for restoration of broken people (recovery) led him to start an 8 week series on healing through Jesus' words in the Beatitudes (foundational principles of our recovery ministry). Even starting where we do, denial/admit you need God. YAY!
Second, the ouch factor. Before he got to the part about admitting we need God (poor in spirit) he spoke about why we need God. Isaiah 64:6 for example. As he started putting on a latex glove, he explained he had not wanted to do this, that people would be too offended. But....
Let me give you a hint. Think old testament. What did unclean often refer to?
Let me give you another hint. Think of what else the term 'rag' is used for.
Fourth, his dedication to literal translation. The Common English Bible (CEB) translation says: "all our righteous deeds are like a menstrual rag." So did you guess? He pulled out a used menstrual pad!
I personally wasn't offended, I've known this to be an accurate translation prior. And, as a woman, I had respect for a guy who could do that, even with a glove on. But mostly because of how he prefaced it, I believe God did tell him he wants us to know how offended he is at what we try to offer him sometimes. I was convicted.
Even though I have heard that translation before, when it comes to my own 'filthy rags' I see them like my 'filthy' dishrag. Not perfect but able to be used, good enough.
Wrong.
There is no use for a used menstrual pad, people don't want to even see it, never mind touch it. It is detestable, abhorrent, OFFENSIVE to all senses!
Ok.
I think I get it God.
You see, lately, I have been prone to a little pride. I've been a little prideful about spending 3-4, sometimes 5 large portions (2-4 hrs at at time) of time every week on my relationship with God in very external ways. I have been very aware of how my life may appear, and I've even been told how I seem "very servant hearted."
Oy! tricksy devil.
I've coasted a little lately because of that opinion of my outward actions.
My reasons for seeking out God in serving and community haven't changed, but my attitude in those moments....slightly.
When I am resentful of lack of help. Filthy rag.
When I am tired and just want my Friday nights back....to waste. Filthy rag.
When I feel taken for granted and show up as the martyr. Filthy rag.
When I feel like no one else does it 'good enough' and I try to do as much as I can, all on my own. Filthy rag.
When I wish I could pick and choose who I serve. Filthy rag.
I have been giving God my filthy rags and expecting he approves of them because I genuinely do want to serve him, and I genuinely do want be his conduit, and I genuinely do want to be immersed in his family. But when I do it out of my own power, and my own self-seeking desire for the personal rewards I get, and do it out of my sense of having something to offer. How could I not see that was pretty offensive?
When do I turn to God, desperate for His sustenance?
When do I depend on God for my every day survival?
When do I humbly declare myself not worthy?
When I do that, those would be the moments Jesus calls poor in spirit. Jesus calls blessed.
Blessed = approved of. Yes, love me those translations :)
I want God to approve of me, bless me, because I do everything out of desperate need for him. I want everything that flows out of me to get that "Gold Star" from God, not man.
Not myself.
Not a hard choice.
Gold Star vs. filthy rag.
I enjoy the type of speaking he does, especially helping us see the 'why' and 'context', with literal translations and historical & cultural frames of reference. That's right up my alley, with my love for history and my Expanded Bible.
I admire his obedience to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. On more than one occasion he has explained how he wanted to teach vs. how he was told to teach. He has humbly confessed to how his sermon has changed because of pride or lack of faith.
I also admire his willingness to not pull any punches. He will not flower up the teaching to make it more palatable. He even unpretties our modern translations of the Bible, language society might find perfectly acceptable outside Church walls, but appalled at inside a sacred building. I relish these messages and actually look forward to when I say 'ouch' from the conviction he's tapped into.
So, all of these came into play last Sunday and I just LOVED the message.
First, his heart for restoration of broken people (recovery) led him to start an 8 week series on healing through Jesus' words in the Beatitudes (foundational principles of our recovery ministry). Even starting where we do, denial/admit you need God. YAY!
Second, the ouch factor. Before he got to the part about admitting we need God (poor in spirit) he spoke about why we need God. Isaiah 64:6 for example. As he started putting on a latex glove, he explained he had not wanted to do this, that people would be too offended. But....
Third, his obedience. God said, "You will say this and I want people to leave offended". God told him, "I want people to understand how offended I am!" The glove alone had Sean and I looking at each other, with eager anticipation yet with a little pre-emptive disgust, wondering what unclean thing would be used as a metaphor.
So, he did what no other pastor I know would do.
He did what no other MAN I know would do.
Let me give you a hint. Think old testament. What did unclean often refer to?
Let me give you another hint. Think of what else the term 'rag' is used for.
Fourth, his dedication to literal translation. The Common English Bible (CEB) translation says: "all our righteous deeds are like a menstrual rag." So did you guess? He pulled out a used menstrual pad!
I personally wasn't offended, I've known this to be an accurate translation prior. And, as a woman, I had respect for a guy who could do that, even with a glove on. But mostly because of how he prefaced it, I believe God did tell him he wants us to know how offended he is at what we try to offer him sometimes. I was convicted.
Even though I have heard that translation before, when it comes to my own 'filthy rags' I see them like my 'filthy' dishrag. Not perfect but able to be used, good enough.
Wrong.
There is no use for a used menstrual pad, people don't want to even see it, never mind touch it. It is detestable, abhorrent, OFFENSIVE to all senses!
Ok.
I think I get it God.
You see, lately, I have been prone to a little pride. I've been a little prideful about spending 3-4, sometimes 5 large portions (2-4 hrs at at time) of time every week on my relationship with God in very external ways. I have been very aware of how my life may appear, and I've even been told how I seem "very servant hearted."
Oy! tricksy devil.
I've coasted a little lately because of that opinion of my outward actions.
My reasons for seeking out God in serving and community haven't changed, but my attitude in those moments....slightly.
When I am resentful of lack of help. Filthy rag.
When I am tired and just want my Friday nights back....to waste. Filthy rag.
When I feel taken for granted and show up as the martyr. Filthy rag.
When I feel like no one else does it 'good enough' and I try to do as much as I can, all on my own. Filthy rag.
When I wish I could pick and choose who I serve. Filthy rag.
I have been giving God my filthy rags and expecting he approves of them because I genuinely do want to serve him, and I genuinely do want be his conduit, and I genuinely do want to be immersed in his family. But when I do it out of my own power, and my own self-seeking desire for the personal rewards I get, and do it out of my sense of having something to offer. How could I not see that was pretty offensive?
When do I turn to God, desperate for His sustenance?
When do I depend on God for my every day survival?
When do I humbly declare myself not worthy?
When I do that, those would be the moments Jesus calls poor in spirit. Jesus calls blessed.
Blessed = approved of. Yes, love me those translations :)
I want God to approve of me, bless me, because I do everything out of desperate need for him. I want everything that flows out of me to get that "Gold Star" from God, not man.
Not myself.
Not a hard choice.
Gold Star vs. filthy rag.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
May the words of my mouth
Part 2 of the series "Soul Detox" I watched the other night (in front of my treadmill, wahoo!), was just as amazing as the first part, I just had to share.
I have learned over the years, in my marriage, that often it was more beneficial to be silent and praying for God to transform Sean than what I called 'being encouraging.' When I was 'encouraging' I was spouting off about all he could be, and did that for years before I realized I was doing exactly what hadn't worked on me, and in fact had hurt me deeply, with lasting insecurity issues. So, since I couldn't say anything 'nice' I didn't say anything at all and prayed instead. It worked......slowly. But Sean grew at a much more rapid pace when I learned what real encouragement was.
About 8 months ago I read a book, 'His Needs, Her Needs.' The section about His Need for Admiration hit me like a bullseye. Summary - Admiration is one of the greatest motivators for men. When a woman in particular expresses admiration for her husband that inspires him to achieve more. Then he sees himself more capable of achieving more. Admiration from his wife gives him more satisfaction than from a paycheck. He needs to be appreciated for what he already is, not what he could be (if he lived up to your standards). Without admiration men lack belief in themselves and are inherently more defensive about their shortcomings. They hate/fear hearing a critical view of themselves. A man expects, and needs, his wife to be his most enthusiastic fan. That's where he gets his confidence and energy. So when a woman feels it's her right/obligation to 'straighten out' her husband it feels like a downpour of disapproval, not the shower of approval they need. Criticism/disrespect makes massive Love Bank withdrawals.
At the GLSummit this fall I watched a session by Craig Groeschel, the toxicity in different relationships, and he gave an example of counseling a couple with his wife and the woman spent the entire session picking apart all that her husband needed to fix about himself. They couldn't believe, even in a counselling session she would speak so disrespectfully about him in front of others, and tried to correct her on that attitude, and she replied to Craig's wife, 'well, if I had a husband as great as yours maybe I could appreciate him more.' His wife quickly replied, 'maybe if you appreciated your husband, he could be a great man.' That really confirmed what I read and I tried to really absorb that message.
Well, this message from Craig Groeschel reiterated that same idea, and it sunk in even deeper. The words I speak to him are either life-giving or life-taking. I want my husband to feel like he's winning! I want my words to build him up. Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
If you struggle with how to talk to your husband with life giving words (or anyone for that matter), I greatly encourage you to watch this video.
http://www.elevationchurch.org/sermons/souldetox/part2
I have learned over the years, in my marriage, that often it was more beneficial to be silent and praying for God to transform Sean than what I called 'being encouraging.' When I was 'encouraging' I was spouting off about all he could be, and did that for years before I realized I was doing exactly what hadn't worked on me, and in fact had hurt me deeply, with lasting insecurity issues. So, since I couldn't say anything 'nice' I didn't say anything at all and prayed instead. It worked......slowly. But Sean grew at a much more rapid pace when I learned what real encouragement was.
About 8 months ago I read a book, 'His Needs, Her Needs.' The section about His Need for Admiration hit me like a bullseye. Summary - Admiration is one of the greatest motivators for men. When a woman in particular expresses admiration for her husband that inspires him to achieve more. Then he sees himself more capable of achieving more. Admiration from his wife gives him more satisfaction than from a paycheck. He needs to be appreciated for what he already is, not what he could be (if he lived up to your standards). Without admiration men lack belief in themselves and are inherently more defensive about their shortcomings. They hate/fear hearing a critical view of themselves. A man expects, and needs, his wife to be his most enthusiastic fan. That's where he gets his confidence and energy. So when a woman feels it's her right/obligation to 'straighten out' her husband it feels like a downpour of disapproval, not the shower of approval they need. Criticism/disrespect makes massive Love Bank withdrawals.
At the GLSummit this fall I watched a session by Craig Groeschel, the toxicity in different relationships, and he gave an example of counseling a couple with his wife and the woman spent the entire session picking apart all that her husband needed to fix about himself. They couldn't believe, even in a counselling session she would speak so disrespectfully about him in front of others, and tried to correct her on that attitude, and she replied to Craig's wife, 'well, if I had a husband as great as yours maybe I could appreciate him more.' His wife quickly replied, 'maybe if you appreciated your husband, he could be a great man.' That really confirmed what I read and I tried to really absorb that message.
Well, this message from Craig Groeschel reiterated that same idea, and it sunk in even deeper. The words I speak to him are either life-giving or life-taking. I want my husband to feel like he's winning! I want my words to build him up. Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
If you struggle with how to talk to your husband with life giving words (or anyone for that matter), I greatly encourage you to watch this video.
http://www.elevationchurch.org/sermons/souldetox/part2
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Soul Detox
So, I am pretty great at multi-tasking, not so great at power tools, so a few years after I had the idea of a shelf in front of my treadmill to watch online sermons on my laptop WHILE walking/jogging! Brilliant! But because I had to wait for the power tool user of the house to finally have time, it's NOW finally done!!! I'm so stoked, I watched 2 in one evening! And the only trouble is, it's HARD taking notes! :)
But I managed just enough in order to share just a bit.
Thoughts. I have spent a life time being too affected by my thoughts. Thoughts that have often had toxic effects. Leaking poison into my life.
Negative - I give and give and give, everyone else takes.
Worry/Fear - what if I can't, or what if I never...what if I'm rejected
Discontent - I don't look like I'm supposed to, I don't have what I want....
Critical - how can someone do that, or why can't you just, or why am I so....
Lately I have the self-critical variety of thoughts seeping into my mind; about my body, my lack of self-control, lack of self-discipline, lack of obedience, self-sabotage and lack of self-love.
I've been so mad at myself!
WHY do I listen to that thought that says I want.... (insert unhealthy treat here)? Or. The thought that says I don't want....(insert exercise of any sort here)? Why do I insert self-blame here? I treat myself, or I failed myself. I allow myself to listen because it's my desires. Right?
I am learning, there is no such thing as neutral thoughts, thoughts only from myself. Yes, I am the one making the choice to act on those thoughts, but I am not giving enough credit to the creep whose voice rings in my head, sounding like my own, saying I want chocolate and I don't want to be active. My thoughts I've considered, at worst, undermining but mostly harmless, but now I know those thoughts that aren't from God are lethal!
It sounds so stupidly simple now. I know it's called 'temptation', duh, but I gave myself all the credit for those desires. My mind has been has been a little blown! Hopefully this is the transforming by the renewing of my mind I need! Now I know, those thoughts are attacks, I need to take them captive and recognize them as trash, not truth.
If you struggle with your thoughts, I really encourage you to watch this message on detoxing your soul from toxic thoughts.
http://www.elevationchurch.org/sermons/souldetox/part1
But I managed just enough in order to share just a bit.
Thoughts. I have spent a life time being too affected by my thoughts. Thoughts that have often had toxic effects. Leaking poison into my life.
Negative - I give and give and give, everyone else takes.
Worry/Fear - what if I can't, or what if I never...what if I'm rejected
Discontent - I don't look like I'm supposed to, I don't have what I want....
Critical - how can someone do that, or why can't you just, or why am I so....
Lately I have the self-critical variety of thoughts seeping into my mind; about my body, my lack of self-control, lack of self-discipline, lack of obedience, self-sabotage and lack of self-love.
I've been so mad at myself!
WHY do I listen to that thought that says I want.... (insert unhealthy treat here)? Or. The thought that says I don't want....(insert exercise of any sort here)? Why do I insert self-blame here? I treat myself, or I failed myself. I allow myself to listen because it's my desires. Right?
I am learning, there is no such thing as neutral thoughts, thoughts only from myself. Yes, I am the one making the choice to act on those thoughts, but I am not giving enough credit to the creep whose voice rings in my head, sounding like my own, saying I want chocolate and I don't want to be active. My thoughts I've considered, at worst, undermining but mostly harmless, but now I know those thoughts that aren't from God are lethal!
It sounds so stupidly simple now. I know it's called 'temptation', duh, but I gave myself all the credit for those desires. My mind has been has been a little blown! Hopefully this is the transforming by the renewing of my mind I need! Now I know, those thoughts are attacks, I need to take them captive and recognize them as trash, not truth.
If you struggle with your thoughts, I really encourage you to watch this message on detoxing your soul from toxic thoughts.
http://www.elevationchurch.org/sermons/souldetox/part1
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Artificial Intelligence
We weren't satisfied with the first result. We wanted them more and more human like, and so that's been an endeavor for hundreds of years. Whether for them to be in our service, or some an attempt at a 'better' peer, the pursuit is ongoing. Even our fiction has a genre for finding ways to bring life to inanimate objects, stories as old as Pinocchio, or as recent as AI or I, Robot.
So, if we do it, why wouldn't God? Why wouldn't He want to create something more than a robot? Want to be more than a puppeteer? Want something closer to Him?
An all powerful God has 2 choices, essentially robots or something in His image - with the freedom to choose. It must take a lot of strength to hand control over to imperfect beings.
A good and loving God only has one choice. That's the only way His creations could truly become His family. His ultimate goal for His creation.
We can't have it one way sometimes and the other the rest of the time. 'He can control the evil people but not me.' We would call that God manipulative. Mostly because we would believe our choices are not bad, but God would have a different opinion. The only good and fair thing to do is allow all of us to have complete control of our choices all the time.
To me, it is artificial (or, bogus) intelligence to blame God for the results of our collective choices. Why don't we blame the psycho with the gun killing children? Why don't we blame satan for influencing our world so negatively for his own warped validation needs? Why do we ask instead where the all powerful God was, implying He is not all powerful.
He's the Father, watching His children put their hand on the stove top over and over again, and weeping.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
A Christmas Spectacular
I past our local concert hall to see an advertisement for 'A Christmas Spectacular'. I don't know why but description made me take notice. Not in a good way.
Spectacular. (sp
k-t
k
y
-lr)
Even in the dictionary, they used "they put on a Christmas spectacular" as an example. That's what Christmas has become, a spectacle. People producing lavish decorations, elaborate gifts, sensational parties, putting their homes on display, putting themselves on performance mode, trying to be impressive, trying to get attention.
If you want impressive, how about a teenage girl, pregnant out of wedlock and she decides to keep the baby. And her fiance, who isn't the father, decides to stick around, marry her and raise the child.
If you want sensational, that illegitimate child was the legitimate Son of God.
If you want a thrilling party, invite a multitude of angels to appear in the sky above and declare praise to God.
If you want prominent, how about one single brilliant star placed in the sky as a beacon declaring to the world that the greatest king on earth was just born.
If you want lavish, how about baby gifts that included gold, frankincense, and myrrh, standard gifts to honor a king or deity in the ancient world.
If you want dramatic, how about a jealous king who ordered nationwide infanticide, that all baby boys under the age of 2 be murdered to eliminate that threat of a new king.
The first Christmas was indeed spectacular all on it's own. It's miraculous story has inspired songs, performances, displays, lights, gifts, celebrations, yet today somehow that stripped down story fails to get the attention.
Spectacular. (sp
k-tky-lr)
adj. - of or resembling a spectacle; impressive, grand, sensational or dramatic;sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect;having a quality that thrusts itself into attention
n. - an elaborate display; a dramatic and/or lavishly produced performance
Even in the dictionary, they used "they put on a Christmas spectacular" as an example. That's what Christmas has become, a spectacle. People producing lavish decorations, elaborate gifts, sensational parties, putting their homes on display, putting themselves on performance mode, trying to be impressive, trying to get attention.
If you want impressive, how about a teenage girl, pregnant out of wedlock and she decides to keep the baby. And her fiance, who isn't the father, decides to stick around, marry her and raise the child.
If you want sensational, that illegitimate child was the legitimate Son of God.
If you want a thrilling party, invite a multitude of angels to appear in the sky above and declare praise to God.
If you want prominent, how about one single brilliant star placed in the sky as a beacon declaring to the world that the greatest king on earth was just born.
If you want lavish, how about baby gifts that included gold, frankincense, and myrrh, standard gifts to honor a king or deity in the ancient world.
If you want dramatic, how about a jealous king who ordered nationwide infanticide, that all baby boys under the age of 2 be murdered to eliminate that threat of a new king.
The first Christmas was indeed spectacular all on it's own. It's miraculous story has inspired songs, performances, displays, lights, gifts, celebrations, yet today somehow that stripped down story fails to get the attention.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Truthful Thursday
Does this sound like the description of a Church you know, or what you figure Churches are about?
The people of the Church were inconsistent and often gave up on studying the Bible. The community was apathetic and unconnected, rarely sharing more than shallow conversation and white-washed prayer requests. The teachers among them could not bring about healing or miracles because of the lack of belief among them. The people treated the signs God did give them with disinterest and irreverence. They found it difficult to trust and rely on Jesus Christ, which made adhering to his teachings a struggle. The people couldn’t live in harmony or unite over their similarities; they couldn’t see all that they had in common. And when those among them were in need they couldn’t find it in their hearts to share their belongings, they had no money to spare and hoarded all their possessions for themselves. While the people found their way to Church most Sundays, they were too busy to stay after Church to fellowship, they would go their separate ways, each to their own homes, and not stay in touch throughout the week. Their choices produced lives they could not celebrate, they felt they had no reason to praise God, and their hypocrisy lost the respect of those who knew them. The number of their Church community dwindled every day.
This is actually a translation of Acts 2:42-47, a translation called 'the Jon Courtney Jr. Reverse' translation. We were priveleged to hear this one time only reading last week at Church and boy did it make a point. Quite a few of the Churches I have known, or have heard about from jaded friends, has sounded a lot more like the opposite description of the Acts Church, the community that added thousands to it's numbers consistently. Here is how they actually did that:
42And they steadfastly persevered, devoting themselves constantly to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship. They shared everything with each other, they shared life together, the breaking of bread, and the prayers.
43 Everyone around was in awe, and were in reverential fear, at all those wonders and miraculous signs done through the apostles! And everyone felt great respect for God.
44 And all who believed (those who adhered to and trusted in and relied on Jesus Christ) were united, living in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common.
45 And according as any had need they sold their possessions and their land, pooling their resources so that each person’s need was met.
46 They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration. They partook of their food with gladness and simplicity and generous hearts.
47 The believers praised God and were respected by all the people. More and more people were being saved every day, and the Lord was adding them to their group.
I am so glad I found a community of believers who are closer to the second than first translation, a blessing to be sure.
The people of the Church were inconsistent and often gave up on studying the Bible. The community was apathetic and unconnected, rarely sharing more than shallow conversation and white-washed prayer requests. The teachers among them could not bring about healing or miracles because of the lack of belief among them. The people treated the signs God did give them with disinterest and irreverence. They found it difficult to trust and rely on Jesus Christ, which made adhering to his teachings a struggle. The people couldn’t live in harmony or unite over their similarities; they couldn’t see all that they had in common. And when those among them were in need they couldn’t find it in their hearts to share their belongings, they had no money to spare and hoarded all their possessions for themselves. While the people found their way to Church most Sundays, they were too busy to stay after Church to fellowship, they would go their separate ways, each to their own homes, and not stay in touch throughout the week. Their choices produced lives they could not celebrate, they felt they had no reason to praise God, and their hypocrisy lost the respect of those who knew them. The number of their Church community dwindled every day.
This is actually a translation of Acts 2:42-47, a translation called 'the Jon Courtney Jr. Reverse' translation. We were priveleged to hear this one time only reading last week at Church and boy did it make a point. Quite a few of the Churches I have known, or have heard about from jaded friends, has sounded a lot more like the opposite description of the Acts Church, the community that added thousands to it's numbers consistently. Here is how they actually did that:
42And they steadfastly persevered, devoting themselves constantly to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship. They shared everything with each other, they shared life together, the breaking of bread, and the prayers.
43 Everyone around was in awe, and were in reverential fear, at all those wonders and miraculous signs done through the apostles! And everyone felt great respect for God.
44 And all who believed (those who adhered to and trusted in and relied on Jesus Christ) were united, living in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common.
45 And according as any had need they sold their possessions and their land, pooling their resources so that each person’s need was met.
46 They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration. They partook of their food with gladness and simplicity and generous hearts.
47 The believers praised God and were respected by all the people. More and more people were being saved every day, and the Lord was adding them to their group.
I am so glad I found a community of believers who are closer to the second than first translation, a blessing to be sure.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Truthful Tuesday
Christians are like rubber bands. We (our spiritual selves) get stretched. A lot! And then we shrink again. But if you notice, once a rubber band gets stretched significantly, it never goes back to it's exact old shape, it stays stretched out to a degree. And each time it is stretched it retains that stretched shape a little better. Just be sure it's God who's doing the stretching, He knows how far you can bend. Otherwise, you may just snap.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Raising Beautiful Daughters
I joined my husband on the last night of a summer Bible study he was attending on a night I'm usually busy, and I really enjoyed it, I really like the way this pastor teaches, and I love learning alongside my hubby.
There was one passage he used to support something else he was saying, and he emphasized this verse, Psalm 144: 12 - "Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace." And repeated for us women, look at what God says about your beauty, not society. But I felt like I was missing something, not quite sure I was supposed to value beauty like a pillar.
So today I did on study on it, looking up the verse in various translations on Biblegateway.com. Then I Googled the verse to see if anyone else had shared a study on the essence of this verse I was searching for. Sure enough, I found it. And it was written by a father. It was so well written and fleshed out. It made me appreciate my own beauty and strength, and what it really means to God and should mean to me. I just had to save it here for 'one day', and figured, why not share :)
There was one passage he used to support something else he was saying, and he emphasized this verse, Psalm 144: 12 - "Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace." And repeated for us women, look at what God says about your beauty, not society. But I felt like I was missing something, not quite sure I was supposed to value beauty like a pillar.
So today I did on study on it, looking up the verse in various translations on Biblegateway.com. Then I Googled the verse to see if anyone else had shared a study on the essence of this verse I was searching for. Sure enough, I found it. And it was written by a father. It was so well written and fleshed out. It made me appreciate my own beauty and strength, and what it really means to God and should mean to me. I just had to save it here for 'one day', and figured, why not share :)
Friday, August 17, 2012
Geeky Girl - Responsibility
It has been the summer for Comic Book movies and I'm loving it! :) And of course, the one-liners have been passing our lips frequently, I still can't stop repeating the Hulk's famous line after bashing Loki, "Puny demi god." Perfection!
Batman The Dark Knight Rises had a great one as well, "Maybe it's time we all stop trying to outsmart the truth and let it have its day." Alfred is always good for one or two of the profound statements.
But the one that really got me was from The Amazing Spider-Man. Not even close to my favorite of all the comic movies this summer, but they reworked the line 'With great power comes great responsibility', a favorite of mine, and instead Uncle Ben says, "“If you can do good things for other people, you have a moral responsibility to do it.....You owe the world your gifts.” Some people are ticked at them for changing it but I think it's aimed more at the 'masses' now, it can and does apply to everyone. We see, more frequently than we want to, the the opportunities to do good things for other people.
A lot of people don't see themselves as having any power. They don't see the financial power they have. They don't see the influential power they have. They don't see the creative power they have. Yet, too many of us readily boast of our gifts, this is a point of pride but we have the same responsibility because there is power in our gifts. We don't owe the world our gifts, but we do owe God. We won't ever have to answer to the world for not using our gifts responsibly, but we will have to answer to God.
Batman The Dark Knight Rises had a great one as well, "Maybe it's time we all stop trying to outsmart the truth and let it have its day." Alfred is always good for one or two of the profound statements.
But the one that really got me was from The Amazing Spider-Man. Not even close to my favorite of all the comic movies this summer, but they reworked the line 'With great power comes great responsibility', a favorite of mine, and instead Uncle Ben says, "“If you can do good things for other people, you have a moral responsibility to do it.....You owe the world your gifts.” Some people are ticked at them for changing it but I think it's aimed more at the 'masses' now, it can and does apply to everyone. We see, more frequently than we want to, the the opportunities to do good things for other people.
A lot of people don't see themselves as having any power. They don't see the financial power they have. They don't see the influential power they have. They don't see the creative power they have. Yet, too many of us readily boast of our gifts, this is a point of pride but we have the same responsibility because there is power in our gifts. We don't owe the world our gifts, but we do owe God. We won't ever have to answer to the world for not using our gifts responsibly, but we will have to answer to God.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Truth-Full Tuesday
This is actually an insight I was blessed with 2 weeks ago and forgot I was going to blog, but alas I was luckily reminded and now I can share :)
It was after I had spent the day at my nephew's 2nd birthday party, I was driving back to Winnipeg from Altona, thanking God for the wonderful day he had gifted me.
I was reflecting on the moments I was able to spend with each niece and nephew, reveling in the fun we had, each smile I was able to get, the moments they didn't want me to let go of them, the silliness, the love.
They weren't perfectly behaved the whole time but at the end of the day I didn't think about those moments, in fact I could hardly recall them. No, I was completely and totally blessed and more in love with those kids at the end of the day.
And then God whispered to me, 'that's how I feel after I get to spend time with you.'
We get so hung up on ways to be more spiritual rather than just spending time with God. Would the kidlings rather read letters from me or be with me? Would they rather be hearing their moms talk about what I'm like or hang out with me themselves? Do they try to first be perfect, or when with me just worry about behaving? Nope. Definitely not. They just want to get the most from being with me they can. Do I get consumed about bad behaviors, either anticipating it, or let it end our time together? No, I speak into those moments truthfully as they happen and move on. And then barely remember them because I'm basking in the awesome time we just shared.
How awesome is it to know God feels that way about me.
It was after I had spent the day at my nephew's 2nd birthday party, I was driving back to Winnipeg from Altona, thanking God for the wonderful day he had gifted me.
I was reflecting on the moments I was able to spend with each niece and nephew, reveling in the fun we had, each smile I was able to get, the moments they didn't want me to let go of them, the silliness, the love.
They weren't perfectly behaved the whole time but at the end of the day I didn't think about those moments, in fact I could hardly recall them. No, I was completely and totally blessed and more in love with those kids at the end of the day.
And then God whispered to me, 'that's how I feel after I get to spend time with you.'
We get so hung up on ways to be more spiritual rather than just spending time with God. Would the kidlings rather read letters from me or be with me? Would they rather be hearing their moms talk about what I'm like or hang out with me themselves? Do they try to first be perfect, or when with me just worry about behaving? Nope. Definitely not. They just want to get the most from being with me they can. Do I get consumed about bad behaviors, either anticipating it, or let it end our time together? No, I speak into those moments truthfully as they happen and move on. And then barely remember them because I'm basking in the awesome time we just shared.
How awesome is it to know God feels that way about me.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Heal ~ Change ~ Grow - Part Two
Well it's been quite awhile, but the second part of this book 'Changes That Heal' was much harder to summarize, it's messages so important I wanted to write down everything! But that's not really a 'Cole's notes' simple summary then is it :) If you can't read the book at least you have this summary of critical truths that may start a path to some answers for you.
As I mentioned in the last post, there is a third ingredient needed for us to grow, in addition to Grace & Truth, and that is Time.
"There is a season for everything under the sun."
Time
God's time - rarely does he snap his fingers and change us once we 'get it', there is still a lot to be learned by making us work at it as well.
Our time - old habits die hard, even once we get it, integrating what we know with what we do takes time. Even Paul said, I know what I should do yet I keep doing what I know I shouldn't do.
Relational time - we may need the time to learn things in relationships we were never taught in our formative years, or we may need to unlearn things we shouldn't have learned as children when it comes to relationships.
There are 3 foundational truths we need to learn through childhood/adolescence that are critical to having healthy relationships as an adult:
Bonding with others - we need to have others to relate to at the deepest, emotional, level. God created us to hunger for relationships, with him and others. It's a Biblical and natural principle, nothing grows apart from another source of strength and nutrition, nothing grows completely self-sustaining. The most foundationally important bond is with our parents, most security instincts develop from the confidence/trust in these 2 relationships, not to mention psychological development. It also lays the foundation for how we proceed to bond with others, how we relate to God and how we relate to ourselves. If you can't bond properly with people (issues with trust, fear, anxiety, isolation in relationships) begin by trying to examine your formative relationships.
Separating from others - we need healthy boundaries so we realize our independence from others. Boundaries help us define who we are and who we are not, what we are responsible for and what we are not, what we own and what we don't own. Without these boundaries we can find ourselves trying to control others or letting ourselves be controlled by others. Boundaries are our emotional 'skin', our skin knows how to protect us by keeping unhealthy things out but letting nourishing things in. When our skin is severely wounded it can't protect us as well and needs to be repaired to be functional again. Same with our boundaries, if we are letting ourselves be wounded or not letting in nourishment, we need to fix our boundary problems to stay healthy. If you can't separate yourself from people (issues with co-dependence, control, anxiety, self-worth) begin by trying to discover what healthy boundaries are.
Becoming an adult - the process of moving into authority over your own life.
It is hard to take that authority and own your life if you have a distorted view of yourself and others.
Part of becoming an adult is realizing that not only within others, but within ourselves, is both a good and bad nature, and we have to understand and accept that to get a realistic view of ourselves, others, and our relationships. We need to see the good and bad truthfully in order to get a balanced view, we can not summarize a person, even ourselves, as wholly good or wholly bad. When we are intolerant of 'bad' we blame and withdraw from others, when we are intolerant of 'good' we are self-destructive. Learning to balance the good nature vs. bad nature in others and ourselves is developed in childhood, but over time. As we are exposed to 'good' parents who make 'bad' mistakes and we progress in reconciling they can exist as both. If you didn't learn this as a child you can be stuck in the 'child-like' thinking of 'all-good' or 'all-bad'.
Another way you can tell if you haven't moved fully into an adult role is you will either a) still have the 'one down' mentality where you feel under the authority of other adults (inferior, need permission/approval, powerless, etc.), or b) develop a 'one up' mentality where you are focused on being 'higher' than others (parenting, judgemental, superiority, power hungry, etc.). When we become adults we become equals with other adults, age is not a factor, we all have one higher authority, God. We no longer need parenting, God is our only Father. No adult (who is now your peer, brother/sister, contemporary) is above you (or below you), God's is the only approval we should seek. This isn't license to disrespect authorities God has placed in your life, but respect doesn't take away your freedom to choose.
If you feel like you don't have authority over your life, begin by maturing your freedom to think, decide, and act for yourself.
I want to reiterate again that these points are very summarized, so if you feel like you can relate but need more information to flesh this out, I encourage you to read the book - a lot of what I haven't said here is examples to show you what it looks like in real lives. Or I can relate more specific information to you over coffee : ) But I highly recommend evaluating the health of your relationships in respect to these points.
It definitely takes time, with equal portions of grace and truth, to grow healthy relationships with yourself and other, but the fruit is worth it. Just remember there is a season for everything under the sun. Even in relationships, there is.....
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
As I mentioned in the last post, there is a third ingredient needed for us to grow, in addition to Grace & Truth, and that is Time.
"There is a season for everything under the sun."
Time
God's time - rarely does he snap his fingers and change us once we 'get it', there is still a lot to be learned by making us work at it as well.
Our time - old habits die hard, even once we get it, integrating what we know with what we do takes time. Even Paul said, I know what I should do yet I keep doing what I know I shouldn't do.
Relational time - we may need the time to learn things in relationships we were never taught in our formative years, or we may need to unlearn things we shouldn't have learned as children when it comes to relationships.
There are 3 foundational truths we need to learn through childhood/adolescence that are critical to having healthy relationships as an adult:
Bonding with others - we need to have others to relate to at the deepest, emotional, level. God created us to hunger for relationships, with him and others. It's a Biblical and natural principle, nothing grows apart from another source of strength and nutrition, nothing grows completely self-sustaining. The most foundationally important bond is with our parents, most security instincts develop from the confidence/trust in these 2 relationships, not to mention psychological development. It also lays the foundation for how we proceed to bond with others, how we relate to God and how we relate to ourselves. If you can't bond properly with people (issues with trust, fear, anxiety, isolation in relationships) begin by trying to examine your formative relationships.
Separating from others - we need healthy boundaries so we realize our independence from others. Boundaries help us define who we are and who we are not, what we are responsible for and what we are not, what we own and what we don't own. Without these boundaries we can find ourselves trying to control others or letting ourselves be controlled by others. Boundaries are our emotional 'skin', our skin knows how to protect us by keeping unhealthy things out but letting nourishing things in. When our skin is severely wounded it can't protect us as well and needs to be repaired to be functional again. Same with our boundaries, if we are letting ourselves be wounded or not letting in nourishment, we need to fix our boundary problems to stay healthy. If you can't separate yourself from people (issues with co-dependence, control, anxiety, self-worth) begin by trying to discover what healthy boundaries are.
Becoming an adult - the process of moving into authority over your own life.
It is hard to take that authority and own your life if you have a distorted view of yourself and others.
Part of becoming an adult is realizing that not only within others, but within ourselves, is both a good and bad nature, and we have to understand and accept that to get a realistic view of ourselves, others, and our relationships. We need to see the good and bad truthfully in order to get a balanced view, we can not summarize a person, even ourselves, as wholly good or wholly bad. When we are intolerant of 'bad' we blame and withdraw from others, when we are intolerant of 'good' we are self-destructive. Learning to balance the good nature vs. bad nature in others and ourselves is developed in childhood, but over time. As we are exposed to 'good' parents who make 'bad' mistakes and we progress in reconciling they can exist as both. If you didn't learn this as a child you can be stuck in the 'child-like' thinking of 'all-good' or 'all-bad'.
Another way you can tell if you haven't moved fully into an adult role is you will either a) still have the 'one down' mentality where you feel under the authority of other adults (inferior, need permission/approval, powerless, etc.), or b) develop a 'one up' mentality where you are focused on being 'higher' than others (parenting, judgemental, superiority, power hungry, etc.). When we become adults we become equals with other adults, age is not a factor, we all have one higher authority, God. We no longer need parenting, God is our only Father. No adult (who is now your peer, brother/sister, contemporary) is above you (or below you), God's is the only approval we should seek. This isn't license to disrespect authorities God has placed in your life, but respect doesn't take away your freedom to choose.
If you feel like you don't have authority over your life, begin by maturing your freedom to think, decide, and act for yourself.
I want to reiterate again that these points are very summarized, so if you feel like you can relate but need more information to flesh this out, I encourage you to read the book - a lot of what I haven't said here is examples to show you what it looks like in real lives. Or I can relate more specific information to you over coffee : ) But I highly recommend evaluating the health of your relationships in respect to these points.
It definitely takes time, with equal portions of grace and truth, to grow healthy relationships with yourself and other, but the fruit is worth it. Just remember there is a season for everything under the sun. Even in relationships, there is.....
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Wellness Wednesday
Spiritual wellness that is.
"Instead of trying to grow spiritually, let the spirit flow through your life."
paraphrased from John Ortberg's 'The Me I Want To Be'
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